Access to water shouldn’t run your life.
What keeps you from experiencing community? Most of us can rattle off a long list of possible distractions or commitments that can keep us from engaging in church or community activities. One thing that probably does not make your list here in the U.S. is collecting enough water for the day’s needs. But this is a legitimate concern and daily struggle for many in Rwanda. Leocadie is a prime example.
Leocadie felt lucky to be able to attend Sunday morning services and hear the spiritually enriching messages at her local church in Burera, Rwanda. Any commitment beyond that was nearly impossible because of the demands of her daily life. One such demand was walking miles to the closest water source. As a young, single mother of two, Leocadie desired to prioritize her faith and church community. But the demands of life kept her too busy.
Leocadie shares, “I am a Christian that attends the Pentecostal Church of Rwanda in Gitare. But I faced a problem of fetching water at Lake Burera. It takes me one hour of traveling. I get water from the lake because I can’t afford to pay 20 Rwandan francs for one jerrycan of water provided by Water and Sanitation Corporation.”
Giving the gift of time and community.
World Relief, in partnership with 20 Liters, changed her life. They installed a Rain Water Harvest System at the Evangelical Friends Church of Rwanda in Gitare near Leocadie’s home. Although Leocadie did not attend this church, she was permitted to come and fill her buckets with clean water daily. This helped solve the issue of water accessibility. With enthusiasm, Leocadie celebrates, “The community around that church is benefiting from the water tank! It became a solution to time spent fetching water from Lake Burera. Now my family and neighbors are happy because we are no longer suffering. We are not spending so much time traveling the long distance to collect water from the lake.” (Not to mention a full jerrycan weighs 45 pounds)
The Rain Water Harvest System means more than clean water for a community. It stands as a symbol of the community’s transformation. Church leaders from different denominations came together to address the needs of their neighbors. Pastors often see one another as competition in Rwanda. But thanks to World Relief’s programs, they are now willingly working together to better their community. Leocadie and many others now have access to clean water from the water tank at a church she does not attend. That is a testimony of changed hearts.
Leocadie concludes, “This made me happy and created peace of mind. It helping me to believe more in Jesus because I received support from a church near me that is not my denomination.” In addition, with time being freed up from fetching water, Leocadie can now participate in more church and community activities.
Leocadie and her neighbors are thankful to the church, World Relief and 20 Liters for this transformational partnership.
